Sleep and Health: Mapping Insomnia

Abstract

Under the scourging toll of fast life, furious and fuming stress, and seductive sedentary lifestyle, gluiness to fluorescent screens till late night, the beauty of our sleep is eroded by insomnia miserably. Sleep is one of the most important determinants of our good health-mental and physical both.  Sleep deprivation or inadequate sleep has cast aspersions on our overall health system, and shaken the metabolism, hormone secretion and its functional rhythm, and giving rise to innumerable physical disorders as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular ailments, obesity, mood swings and irritability, immune and autoimmune disorders, kidney issues,  dementia, depression, and even Alzheimer’s disease inter alia. Sleep is one of the most requisite and involuntary processes that charge us up to function effectively. It is a process of rest and repair and restores the senses of our body and brain. In holy scriptures, the importance of sleep is inscribed. In Ayurvedic Samhitas- Charak Samhita, and Ahtanga Hridya, the value and worth of sleep is inscribed, and is considered one of the tree tenets of life, along with diet and good conduct. Good sleep in circadian rhythm is very beneficial for life, and potent marker of healthy life. The paper is a humble attempt to spread awareness about significance of quality sleep that disparages our mental, and physical health, and our overall wellbeing, and role of medication and meditation, In the paper, we’ll discuss sleep and its mechanism, insomnia and its causes, effects, and treatment.